CAPABLE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

capable

adjective

ˈkā-pə-bəl

Definition of capable

as in suitable

having the required skills for an acceptable level of performance a capable and efficient editor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of capable Today, the technologies available for detecting biological threats are substantially more capable. — Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 26 Sep. 2026 Raiola is more than capable of leading a winner, but Moore is a unique talent. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 His work finds a means of using technology, engineering, and performance to ask what a garment might be capable of beyond simply clothing the body. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026 The government says some alleged co-conspirators remain at large in Venezuela and are capable of violence and witness intimidation, raising the possibility that Flores could direct others to act on her behalf if released. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for capable

Recent Examples of Synonyms for capable

Adjective

But with a Ryan Murphy production, dark glamour feels like the suitable, if unofficial, dress code.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
IvyCraft interprets source material first, then develops suitable structure and visuals.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of suitable

Adjective

The administration charged that some recipients were not real people and others had received subsidies without being qualified for them.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026
Productions that film at least half of their days and spend at least $10 million in qualified compensation in 10 or more states also could qualify for an additional uplift.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of qualified

Adjective

He was sentenced to time served since he was held involuntarily for mental health treatment until he was deemed competent to face criminal charges, the sheriff’s office said.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Participants see that competent people, powerful AI tools and individually strong solutions can still create weak outcomes when everyone is optimizing a different part of the system.

— Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of competent

Adjective

Luckily, there have been technological advances in the form of absorbable mesh that can assist where the skin might not be able to.

— Kara McGrath, Allure, 22 Sep. 2026
With only days left before her passport expired, a friend loaned her the $3,500 to pay the higher-end broker, who was able to renew her passport.

— Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of able

Browse Nearby Words

capability

capable

capableness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Capable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/capable. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of capable

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fungible

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes